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SALT LAKE CITY -- Police have identified the remains found at the University of Utah Sunday. They say the body is that of 52-year-old Douglas Nelson.
Two Chevron workers cleaning up an oil spill found Nelson's remains in Red Butte Creek. Police say they were able to identify him by his clothes and dental records.
Police say Nelson was reported missing from Summit County on August 25, 2009. He was last known to be near the University Health Sciences Center five days before.
Police say Nelson had received a mental evaluation at University Hospital. Just before 11:00 that night, after he was released, he activated an emergency phone looking for a ride off campus. He was then directed to the emergency room and was seen heading that way by campus officers.
There is no indication yet of how Nelson died. Police say they are waiting on results from the autopsy report to help determine that.
Over the weekend, Chevron increased the water flow in the creek in order to flush out the oil still remaining from the June 13 leak. Two workers were in the area north of the Williams Building, on the University of Utah campus, when they saw what appeared to be a foot sticking out of the water.
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Story compiled with contributions from Sandra Yi, Shara Park and Cleon Wall.
